My wedding gift to Meghan and Harry? I'll be sitting this one out. | Opinion

Britain’s once-eligible bachelor Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle are engaged. As part of their official duties, the couple posed for a engagement photocall to give the world new images of their coupledom and a peek at the “Suits” actress’ engagement ring. (Nov. 27, 2017)

Britain’s once-eligible bachelor Prince Harry and actress Meghan Markle are engaged. As part of their official duties, the couple posed for a engagement photocall to give the world new images of their coupledom and a peek at the “Suits” actress’ engagement ring. (Nov. 27, 2017)

Christian Caryl | The Washington Post

The big day is approaching, and I'm so thrilled for the royal couple that I've decided to offer them the ultimate wedding present: my sincerest and most respectful neglect.

I've been a journalist long enough to know that — well, let's just say that we're not the most popular profession out there. And God knows that Prince Harry has more reason than other people to despise us, which, by all accounts, he does, wholeheartedly. I wish I could dissociate myself completely from those bottom-feeding paparazzi who hounded his poor mother to her death, but I'm afraid that the general public doesn't usually make such distinctions. And really, why should we expect them to?

Meghan Markle seems like a lovely woman — but of course she, too, is now getting the 21st-century royal treatment, as the press descends on her unsuspecting family, who are obviously ill-equipped to deal with the maelstrom of public attention. (What normal American middle-class family wouldn't be?)

Meghan Markle is the daughter of an African American social worker and a white Hollywood TV cinematographer.

Meghan Markle is the daughter of an African American social worker and a white Hollywood TV cinematographer.

We already live in the most media-drenched era in human history. Even schlubs can go from obscurity to trending news story in a matter of seconds. So just imagine what it's like to be a British royal (and royal-to-be). The wedding of Charles and Diana in 1981 was the most-covered event of its day, but it will pale in comparison with this one. We're about to experience megatons of Markle Sparkle. Meghan is the face that launched a billion tweets. (Actually, when all is said and done, "billion" won't even cover it.)

Meghan and Harry have convinced me — thanks to what I've read in the papers and seen on TV — that they're both fine, upright people, and that they deserve every happiness together. What more could I, as a low-ranking reporter, possibly add to that?

The last thing this couple needs is more exposure. What they really could use is a bit of judicious peace and quiet — benign neglect, if you will. So I would like to offer them the ultimate gift: This is the first and last time I will ever write about them. After that, the balm of silence. I shall abstain.

I'm sure there's going to be a lot to be thrilled about: The carriage. The guests. The dress. The economic impact. I don't begrudge anyone any of it — least of all the little girls in southeast London who will watch Meghan at the altar and see someone who looks like them. God bless them all.

I'm sure it will be great fun for those who are into it. So let everyone else make their gigantic, global fuss. Let the blue-haired ladies from my home town in Texas crowd the barriers along the parade route. Let the artistophiles in Borneo and Bolivia swoon before their TV screens. Let the souvenir hunters stock up on the commemorative plates and the bobbleheads and the special editions.

I won't be in the audience, physical or virtually. I'm going to spend Saturday morning hiking with my kids, and then I'm going to come home and fire up the grill. Maybe, if I'm feeling up to it, I'll mow the lawn. And at some point, sitting out on the deck, I might even pick up the paper for a bit. If I do, I'll be sure to stick to my vow and conscientiously skip over any coverage of the nuptials.

It's the least I can do.

Christian Caryl is Op-ed Editor/International at The Washington Post and the author of "Strange Rebels: 1979 and the Birth of the 21st Century."